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A Tip of the Hat to Ecuador’s Most Flawless Beaches

Set along the mid-coast of Ecuador, Manta is a bustling port where some of the most breathtaking beaches reside and tuna is king. A pre-Columbian era city, its history reaches back earlier than Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyages when it served as a trading post for the Incas and the Mantas. The country’s largest seaport, Manta is full of history, culture, and quiet seascapes to explore.

Its coastline draws powerful waves from the Pacific, making it widely known for watersports such as surfing, kite-surfing, and fishing. Lounge or swim at one of the city’s two most popular beaches, Playa de Tarqui and Playa Murciélago. Stroll along a beachfront promenade, watch tuna boats unload their catch, or make your way to the nearby village of Montecristi, home of the iconic handmade Panama hat made famous by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Naturally, the city known as the Tuna Capital of the World is also home to a giant tuna statue, complete with tin can, perfect for an iconic photo op. When hunger strikes, eat like a local and try Ecuador’s famous encebollado, a broth-based soup made with freshly caught tuna. Manta makes for a lively, breezy holiday destination.

Manta, Ecuador Highlights

Montecristi

A short half-hour trip to this nearby village will take you right to the source of the authentic Panama hat, the brimmed straw hat made famous when President Theodore Roosevelt wore one alongside workers when he visited the Panama Canal before it was completed. You’ll find the real deal made by skilled weavers, an art that is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

Pacoche Lodge & Reserve

Howler monkeys in the wild, over 250 species of birds, and more than 5,000 hectares of dry coastal forest. Pacoche is a lush oasis in the midst of a semi-desert area. Do some birdwatching, watch monkeys move from tree to tree, and savor local flavors. Learn traditional preparations of typical Ecuadorian coastal dishes or take in a number of tours, exhibitions, and demonstrations.

Museum at Cerro Hojas-Jaboncillo

Explore ancient artifacts that pre-date even the Incas at this museum and active archaeology excavation, where more than 600 structures belonging to the Manteño culture have been uncovered. But it’s perhaps best known for having the largest collection of decorative stone u-shaped “seats of power” believed to be used by Manteño royalty.